In 2003, Colin Young recorded an updated version of the song backed by a choir of policemen from the Surrey police force. The proceeds from the sales of the CD went to the Milly's Fund. The fund is a trust set up in memory of murdered school girl Amanda Dowler. Apparently the song was a favourite of hers.[1]

"Build Me Up Buttercup" was covered by David Johansen Group in the late 1970s and early 1980s and appears on The David Johansen Group Live CD (1978). The song was used in the 1983 film Luggage of the Gods!, and featured again in movies twice in the 1990s and once in 2007. It was covered by rock band The Goops in 1995 for the soundtrack of Mallrats, with the music video featuring View Askewniverse characters Jay and Silent Bob. Three years later, it was included (as its original version) in the 1998 film There's Something About Mary where the cast made a video for the song during the end credits, with all the main actors miming to the words in characters. It was also covered by The Frantic in 2007 as a bonus track on their album, Audio & Murder. This version is popularly thought to have been done by both NOFX and The Donnas. English musician Frank Turner recorded a slightly darker cover for the 1969 Key to Change album. The song later appeared on his compilation album The Second Three Years. It was also recorded in the 1960s, and performed by, The Valentines (an Australian band) who had a very little-known backing singer by the name of Bon Scott, who later fronted Fraternity before becoming lead singer of AC/DC.